Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-18

II might be well 10 state how this whole
matter Of returning flags began. Is 30
happens that J am the man who returned
the Grst bat,le.0ag there was ever sent back
10 northern regiment. About four years
aeo Captain Otley, OF our camp. announced
that he had in his possession an Old fag
which belonged to an Ohio company.
He brought the flag 10 me, as repre-
sentative Of the camp, and found on ex.
animation that u was presented TO the COM
pany by the ladies Of an Ohio town.
looked up the town IN Bradsirect, busi-
moss directory and found the name OF the
president Of bank there. wrote TO him,
and he replied that the veterans OF the
company still lived there and had organized
Grand Army Of the Republic post.
cot the name Of the commander and sent
the flag by express, with an appropriate
note. and received a very courteous letter
al thanks. This flag was captured al the
battle OF Cheat Mountain, Virginia, by
General Wise's brigade, and | sent 1t
back In MAY, 1883. This was the
first flag returned, and was The begin
ming of all this returning Of flags. short
time afterwards met General MolineuN IN
New York and he said he bad beard OF my
returning flag aud was very glad OF II.
He said he had in his possession the Con.
i,dcrate flag that was hauled down from
the flag. pole at Augusta, Ga. He wanted
10 return II II be could find out 10 whom
10 send II. ! wrote 10 the Mayor OF Au-
custa and soon afterwards the flag was re-
turned.
ENTERTAINING NORTHERN POSTS.
"Another thing would like to say is
that Lee Camp Is the first that ever enter
tanned Grand Army OF the Republic Dost.
This was when post from Trenton, y. j.,
came down 10 Richmond 10 see the battle
fields. We entertained them the best we
knew how, and afterwards welcomed the
John A. Andrew Post, that we are visiting
now. | will wager that no howl Of protest
will he heard from either Of these posts
against our having ouT old battle flags.
I'VE never asked for our flags. Tho
first we knew Of the matter was when
Governor Fitzhugh Lee, Il member OF our
camp, read letter from Washington TO lis
saving that the flags were 10 be returned.
II would be matter Of great satisfaction
for lis 10 have them, and i no more than a
fair spirit % show IN return for the flags
we have sent back. II is small business
to Taise an QUERY against II, and 1 am
sorry thst the matter came up while we
are visiting here. As TO the 'emblems
q lIttSNUs anu lUtL idlk Ntil, lit
less said the better. We fought for what
We believed was right, and have nothing
10 rcerct or be SoIry for. That is how
Robert l.. Lee Camp stands"
Oiher officers of the camp express cd sim
liar opinions, and were surprised at the
attitude Commander Fairchild has assumed.
PRESS COMMENTS.
PHILADELPHIA Times: II the soldiers Of
-
cnulured battle. flags let them do so; if they
want to beopthem let the flags remain where
they are. for neither the keeping nor the
exchanging will revise a line Of history or
lessen or enlarge the hcrOi>m under beth
1agS that i now confessed A. the grandest
of The world.
New York Hcrald: General Fairchild,
a cburllsh aspirant for the presidency blm.
self. invoked the palsy on the hand, brai0,
and tongue of the man who hoped to make
the country a solid unit. HIS capital IN
trade would disappear were sectional feeling
to die. His hope il to lift the tide Of
hatred that be may ride on lis crest TO
power. His language is that OF a charatIn,
and lis curses can do no better than come
home 10 roost. He does not represent the
veterans, only his personal scheme for pre-
feTmcnt.
Let that pass The soldiers have been
the first 10 forget awrOng, and If they place
the country which they saved on better
vantage ground by giving up the trophies
Of war TO those from whom they were cap
tured. history will not be unmindiul Of the
feet that the northern volunteer knew how
to face The zoe, and, after the battle, TO
bury Cyerythin" EXCEPT his love OF his na- |
tive land IN tie grave which covers "the |
Lost Cause"
Washington critic: As for the "rebel |
f9gS," let them 90 to the states whence |
they came. 70 those who bore them they |
may Ge priced mcmentOes; to the General |
Government they are valueless-wOrse |
than valuelc>S. Trophies that signify VIC |
tories Of Americans over Americans in |
CIVIL war have no place in tue pubhc de- |
paTimHts when the war J. over and |
Il Temporarily divided people are re-
uw'od again. Why Icrpetuhte the TO-
ncuhrancc, Of a flmhy quarrel that
is an over and amicaDly >e'tIed; Were |
they flags OF England, or Germany, or
France MEMORIALS that Signi6ed orr
proves a. "a raiiOn against foreign foe
The case would DE different. A. II is we
cant see any great harm in letting the
south have lhe tattcTed en-lCn> that she
lot in q frl'ricidal strife. Of winch the bat
llc-GclG> have long since been plOughed m
der and >oT,d 10 the fruit Ol peace.